Device for heating keratinous fibers and methods for treating keratinous fibers

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a method for treating keratinous fibers wherein the keratinous fibers are exposed to infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and optionally wavelengths ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, for instance, ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, such as ranging from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers. Also disclosed herein is a a device for heating keratinous fibers, such as the hair, for the implementation of the method according to the present disclosure, comprising at least one emitter of infrared radiation, wherein the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter, such as ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 nanometers. Also disclosed is a kit comprising at least one device for heating keratinous fibers, and at least one composition for treating keratinous fibers.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/153,473, filed Feb. 18, 2009. This application also claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to French Patent Application No. 0950606, filed Jan. 30, 2009.

The present disclosure relates to a device for heating keratinous fibers and methods for heat treating keratinous fibers.

There are various methods for treating human keratinous fibers in order to change its appearance, for example, changing the color of fibers, such as dyeing of the fibers (oxidation dyeing or direct dyeing) and bleaching of the fibers. Non-limiting examples of processes which may make it possible to modify the shape of the fibers, such as permanent waving and hair straightening or smoothing, may involve bringing the fibers into contact with a very strongly alkaline composition comprising hydroxides with the result of converting the disulphide bridges by lanthionization. These treatments may also have the aim of cleaning the keratinous fibers, of protecting or preserving the keratinous fibers or of improving their cosmetic properties, for example conditioning treatments or treatments for protecting against ultraviolet radiation.

Furthermore, it is known to use, during these various cosmetic treatments, devices for heating keratinous fibers, for example a hairdryer, a hair iron or heating rollers.

Among the various cosmetic treatments known, the lasting modification of the shape of the fibers is one of the most well-developed applications. The hold of the hairstyle over time, the effectiveness of the hair shaping in terms of curling and the impact on the fibers (such as in terms of embrittling or degrading the fibers) are major criteria for this type of treatment, for instance for the treatments using reducing agents (permanent wave and smoothing products) or highly alkaline agents (hair straightening products). Methods associated with these products have, for example, been developed in order to increase their effectiveness, such as hot perming.

In comparison with a conventional cold perming method, hot perming may improve effectiveness of curling of the perm and the hold over time of the hairstyle. However, as the keratinous fibers are heated at a relatively high temperature (for instance at a temperature up to 90-110° C.) and as the duration of heating is relatively long (on average between 20 and 30 minutes for the heating stage), the keratinous fibers may be subjected to significant degradation which may not allow the users to repeat the method or alternatively combine this method with other treatments, such as dyeing or bleaching.

The use of far infrared radiation to heat the hair is discussed in the art. In addition near infrared radiation, and a treatment composition capable of being modified by the near infrared radiation are also discussed in the art.

However, the products and methods described and known in the art may offer correct performances only on the day of the treatment. Furthermore, there may be disadvantages undersirable to users, for example:

a high level of degradation of the keratinous fibers, for example in repeated applications or in combination with other treatments, such as oxidation dyeing,

insufficient hold over time under restrictive conditions (mechanical tension during blow drying, repeated shampooing operations, exposure to light), and

the absence of a beneficial role with regard to the cosmetic condition, such as an absence of an improvement, during the heating, of the effect contributed by a treatment composition previously applied to the keratinous fibers.

Therefore, the aim of the present disclosure is to enhance the treatment of keratinous fibers, such as the hold over time and the effectiveness of the treatment, while limiting the degradation of the fibers.

Thus, disclosed herein is a method for the treatment of keratinous fibers, such as the hair, wherein the keratinous fibers are exposed to radiation in the near infrared and optionally to radiation in the middle and/or far infrared.

For example, the near infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers. The middle infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 1400 nanometers to 15,000 nanometers and the far infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter.

Thus, one aspect of the present disclosure is a treatment method for exposing the keratinous fibers to infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers. The infrared radiation can additionally comprise wavelengths ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, for example, ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, such as ranging from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a device for heating keratinous fibers, such as the hair, for the implementation of the methods disclosed herein, wherein the device comprises at least one emitter of infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter, such as ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 nanometers.

The present disclosure also relates to a kit for treating keratinous fibers comprising:

at least one device for heating keratinous fibers according to the present disclosure, and

at least one composition for treating keratinous fibers.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the composition for treating keratinous fibers can be chosen from a direct dyeing composition, an oxidation dyeing composition, a reducing composition for a permanent wave, an oxidizing composition for a permanent wave, a bleaching composition, a conditioning composition, such as a conditioner, for example a rinse-out or leave-in care product, a cleaning composition, such as a shampoo, a styling composition or a composition for protecting from ultraviolet radiation.

As used herein, “heating keratinous fibers” is understood to mean a rise in the temperature of the fibers treated. This heating may optionally result in partial or complete evaporation of a treatment composition applied previously to the fibers, that is to say may result in partial or complete drying of the keratinous fibers.

The use of near infrared radiation can make it possible to significantly reduce the duration of heating of the keratinous fibers, even at a low temperature, for instance by efficient heating, by the near infrared radiation, inside the keratinous fibers. This is because, without being bound by theory, in comparison with middle or far infrared radiation, near infrared radiation exhibits a depth of penetration inside the keratinous fibers which is greater, thus making it possible not to act solely at the surface.

The use of near infrared radiation can make it possible, for instance to have rapid heating, even at low temperature (for example, at temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 80° C., such as ranging from 25° C. to 60° C.), and to obtain a lasting modification to the shaping of the hair without causing additional damage, for example due to an excessively high temperature, such as over 80° C. or even greater than 60° C.

The infrared radiation used during the treatment method according to the present disclosure, may exhibit a first intensity maximum lying at a wavelength within the range ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, which belong to the near infrared range. The presence of this first intensity maximum in the infrared radiation indicates that the near infrared radiation is present in an amount sufficient to confer the effects described above on the total infrared radiation. For instance, it is possible to choose the intensity of this first maximum so that the effective heating of the keratinous fibers by the near infrared radiation is predominant in the heating method. The infrared radiation then may not comprise a wavelength range ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, for example, ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, such as ranging from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers. Alternatively, the infrared radiation may comprise middle and/or far infrared radiation, that is to say the infrared radiation may comprise wavelengths ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, which does not exhibit an intensity maximum in this wavelength range.

The infrared radiation can also exhibit at least one other intensity maximum lying at a wavelength within the wavelength range ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, such as ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, for instance ranging from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers. The wavelength range ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter corresponds, as indicated above, to the middle and far infrared radiation. The presence of at least one second maximum in this wavelength range indicates that the heating stage is not carried out solely by the near infrared radiation. The middle and/or far infrared radiation also participates in the heating method, for instance by a surface action. The presence of this or these additional intensity maxima also indicates that the middle and/or far infrared radiation is not solely a consequence of the emission of the near infrared radiation but is intentionally present in the infrared radiation.

In this case, the intensity of the additional intensity maximum or maxima may be lower than that of the first maximum.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, for example, ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 1400 to 15 000 nanometers, such as ranging from 1400 and 3000 nanometers. In this embodiment, the near infrared radiation is combined with middle infrared radiation.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, for instance, ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter, for example, ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 nanometers. In this embodiment, the near infrared radiation is combined with far infrared radiation.

The intensity of the radiation within the wavelength range ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, such as ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, may represent from 0% to 60%, for example from 10% to 40%, of the intensity of the infrared radiation. The intensity of the near infrared radiation is chosen, for example, to be greater than that of the middle and/or far infrared radiation. However, in so far as the wavelength range of the near infrared radiation is very narrow in comparison with the wavelength range of the middle and far infrared radiation, the sum of the intensities of the middle and far infrared radiation may optionally be greater than the intensity of the radiation of the near infrared radiation.

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating device can comprise a first emitter emitting infrared radiation ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 and 1400 nanometers, and a second emitter emitting infrared radiation ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter, such as ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 nanometers. In at least one embodiment, the heating device comprises two emitters which make it possible to emit, on the one hand, near infrared radiation and, on the other hand, far infrared radiation. It is thus understood that the total infrared radiation may exhibit two intensity maxima each situated within the emission range of the corresponding emitters. Furthermore, the use of two separate emitters can make it possible to modify in a simple way, the relative proportion of near infrared radiation and far infrared radiation in the total radiation, such as by modifying the electrical supply to the two emitters, and thus their radiation intensity. It is thus possible to adjust the proportions of the different types of infrared radiation in order to obtain the desired effect, while limiting the damage to the fibers.

According to the present disclosure, the heating device can be in a form chosen from an infrared lamp, a hairdryer, a heating comb, a heating brush, a hair iron, a styling hood dryer and a heating roller.

The device according to the present disclosure can also comprise a programmable timer capable of supplying the emitter for a predetermined period of time. For example, the predetermined period of time depends on the thermal inertia of the emitter. The timer makes it possible to determine the duration of exposure to the infrared radiation and thus the effectiveness of the heating method. However, the device may comprise emitters exhibiting very different thermal inertias, that is to say that one emitter may require a certain time in order to begin to emit infrared radiation while another emitter will emit more rapidly with an identical electrical supply. Likewise, at the end of the method, one emitters may require a certain time in order to no longer emit infrared radiation while another emitter will rapidly cease to emit. When the device radiates both near infrared radiation and far infrared radiation, the timer can control these various types of radiation optionally in an independent fashion, so as to obtain exposure to the desired infrared radiation for the desired period of time.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the timer can also control the emitter(s) of the device in order to expose the keratinous fibers first to near infrared radiation and then to far infrared radiation, or vice versa. The action of the two types of infrared radiation can then be decoupled and the keratinous fibers can be exposed to these two types of infrared radiation for different periods of time.

The intensity of the infrared radiation can be adjusted so that the keratinous fibers are heated at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 80° C., such as ranging from 25° C. to 60° C. Accordingly, it may be possible to obtain heating while limiting the temperature of the hair and thus while limiting the embrittling or degradation of the hair.

The method according to the present disclosure can comprise a stage wherein at least one treatment composition is also applied to the fibers, before, during and/or after heating the fibers. For instance, heating the fibers with infrared radiation may also improve the effectiveness of the treatment composition, for instance by making it possible to reinforce the penetration thereof into the fibers or to activate the properties thereof.

According to the present disclosure, the treatment composition can be chosen from a direct dyeing composition, an oxidation dyeing composition, a reducing composition for a permanent wave, an oxidizing composition for a permanent wave, a bleaching composition, a conditioning composition, such as a conditioner, for example a rinse-out or leave-in care product, a cleaning composition, such as a shampoo, a styling composition or a composition for protecting from ultraviolet radiation.

The method according to the present disclosure can also comprise treating keratinous fibers comprising:

a) placing the keratinous fibers under tension,

b) applying a reducing composition to the keratinous fibers, in order to reduce the disulphide bonds of the keratin, optionally rinsing keratin fibers,

c) heating the keratinous fibers by exposure to infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, such as ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers, and optionally wavelengths ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, for instance, ranging from 1400 to 25,000 nanometers, such as ranging from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers, and

d) setting by oxidation, in order to reform the said disulphide bonds, by application of an oxidizing composition to the keratinous fibers.

This embodiment of the present disclosure may be used to permanently wave keratinous fibers, which can improve the effectiveness of curling of the hair shaping while limiting the temperature of exposure of the keratinous fibers.

In at least one embodiment, the fibers are heated for a period of time ranging from 1 to 45 minutes, such as a period of time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes.

Also disclosed herein is a kit for treating keratinous fibers comprising at least one device for heating keratinous fibers according to the present disclosure, and at least one composition for treating keratinous fibers. The at least one composition may be chosen from, for instance, a direct dyeing composition, an oxidation dyeing composition, a reducing composition for a permanent wave, an oxidizing composition for a permanent wave, a bleaching composition, a conditioning composition, such as a conditioner, for example a rinse-out or leave-in care product, a cleaning composition, such as a shampoo, a styling composition or a composition for protecting from ultraviolet radiation.

The at least one composition can be provided in various forms, such as a lotion, a cream, a gel or in any other form appropriate for application to keratinous fibers.

The at least one composition is packaged in a separate compartment or container or device, optionally accompanied by appropriate applicators, such as brushes, including fine brushes, or sponges. It can also be packaged under pressure in an aerosol container in the presence of a propellant and can form a foam.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, unless otherwise indicated the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

The following examples serve to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure without, however, exhibiting a limiting nature.

EXAMPLES Examples 1 to 4

The following compositions were prepared (contents expressed as percentage of active material)

Composition (i) (reducing composition): Thioglycolic acid 6.7 Ammonium bicarbonate 2.7 Pentasodium pentetate (at 40% in aqueous solution) 0.4 Ammonia (at 20% in aqueous solution) q.s.p. pH = 8.7 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100 Composition (ii) (oxidizing composition: Sodium bromide 8 Trisodium phosphate 0.4 Sodium phosphate 0.4 Citric acid q.s.p. pH = 7.5 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100

Example 1 Inventive

The composition (i) was applied for 15 minutes to 2.5 g of locks of natural hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed.

The hair was subsequently subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio) with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm².sr.μm), for 30 minutes. The lamp provided a broad infrared spectrum extending from the near infrared to the far infrared, with an intensity maximum situated in the near infrared. The intensity of the radiation was adjusted so that the temperature the hair was heated at did not exceed 50° C.

The composition (ii) was subsequently applied for 10 minutes. After the leave-in time, the hair was removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Example 2 (Comparative)

The composition (i) was applied for 15 minutes to 2.5 g of locks of natural hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. The hair was then removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Example 3 (Comparative)

The composition (i) was applied for 15 minutes to 2.5 g of locks of natural hair of Japanese type. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and then wound on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm.

The hair roller was then heated at 90° C. for 30 minutes (Digital Perm device, ODIS-2 model, from Oohiro).

After the heating stage, the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. The hair was then removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Example 4 (Comparative)

The composition (i) was applied for 15 minutes to 2.5 g of locks of natural hair of Japanese type. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and then wound on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm.

The hair roller was then heated at 50° C. for 30 minutes (Digital Perm device, ODIS-2 model, from Oohiro). It should be noted that it generally takes more than 60 minutes to dry the hair set on a heating roller at 50° C.

After the heating stage, the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. The hair was then removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Evaluation of the Permanent Wave:

A test of hold of the curls was carried out on the permed hair according to Examples 1 to 4 described above. The locks of hair were kept straight under tension for five hours with a relative humidity of approximately 100%. The hold of the curls was evaluated by comparison of the shape of the hair before and after the test.

In order to evaluate the impact of the perming method on the hair, the effectiveness of curling after repeated applications (three permanent waves) was also measured.

The results are given in Table I below:

TABLE I Effectiveness of Effectiveness of curling after one curling after three permanent wave Hold of the curls permanent waves Example 1 Very good Very good Good (inventive) Example 2 Good Poor Poor (comparative) Example 3 Very good Very good Very poor (comparative) Example 4 Good Poor Very Poor (comparative)

Examples 5 to 8

The following compositions were prepared (contents expressed as percentage of active material):

Composition (iii) (reducing composition): Cysteine 6.06 Ammonium bicarbonate 2.8 Pentasodium pentetate (at 40% in aqueous solution) 0.4 Monoethanolamine 2.8 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100 Composition (iv) (reducing composition): N-acetylcysteine 8.15 Ammonium bicarbonate 2.8 Pentasodium pentetate (at 40% in aqueous solution) 0.4 Monoethanolamine 2.8 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100

For these examples, natural hair of Japanese type was bleached using a commercial hair bleaching product (Platifiz® Compact from L'Oréal). The bleaching took place at 40° C. for 30 minutes.

Example 5 Inventive

The composition (iii) was applied for 15 minutes to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed.

The hair was then subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio, with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm².sr.μm)), for 30 minutes. The intensity of the radiation was adjusted so that the heating temperature of the hair did not exceed 50° C.

The composition (ii) was subsequently applied for 10 minutes. After the leave-in time, the hair was removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Example 6 (Comparative)

The composition (iii) was applied for 15 minutes to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and then the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. After the leave-in time, the hair was removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed again and dried.

Example 7 Inventive

The composition (iv) was applied for 15 minutes to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed.

The hair was then subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio, with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm².sr.μm)), for 30 minutes. The intensity of the radiation was adjusted so that the heating temperature of the hair did not exceed 50° C.

The composition (ii) was subsequently applied for 10 minutes. After the leave-in time, the hair was removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

Example 8 (Comparative)

The composition (iv) was applied for 15 minutes to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and then the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. After the leave-in time, the hair was removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed again and dried. The degree of curling was low.

Evaluation of the Permanent Wave:

The test of hold of the curls was carried out on the permed hair according to Examples 5 to 8 described above.

The results are given in Table II below:

TABLE II Effectiveness of curling after a permanent wave Hold of the curls Example 5 Very good Very good (inventive) Example 6 Very good Poor (comparative) Example 7 Good Good (inventive) Example 8 Good Very poor (comparative)

Example 9

The following composition was prepared (contents expressed as percentage of active material):

Thioglycolic acid 1.5 Cysteine 0.15 Ammonium bicarbonate 2.7 Pentasodium pentetate (at 40% in aqueous solution) 0.4 Ammonia (at 20% in aqueous solution) q.s.p. pH = 8 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100

The composition was applied for 15 minutes to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type wound beforehand on a permanent wave roller with a diameter of 1.7 cm. During the leave-in time, the hair was subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio, with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm².sr.μm)).

The same composition was also applied to 1 g of locks of bleached hair of Japanese type for 15 minutes but without infrared radiation.

After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and then the composition (ii) was applied for 10 minutes. The hair was then removed from the permanent wave roller, rinsed and dried.

It was found, in the case of the hair subjected to radiation with an intensity maximum in the near infrared, that the effectiveness of curling was better than in the case where the hair was not subjected to infrared radiation.

Example 10

The following composition was prepared (contents expressed as percentage of active material):

p-Phenylenediamine 0.65 Resorcinol 0.66 Hydroxyethylcellulose (720 000) 0.72 Decyl polyglucoside 9.0 Benzyl alcohol 4.0 Preservatives 0.06 Ammonia 2 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100

The composition was mixed, weight for weight, with 20 volumes of oxidizing solution and then applied, for 30 minutes, to 1 g of locks of hair (90% white hairs) of Caucasian type. During the leave-in time, the hair was subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio, with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm².sr.μm)).

The same composition was also applied to 1 g of locks of hair (90% white hairs) of Caucasian type for 30 minutes but without infrared radiation.

After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and dried.

It was found, in the case of the hair subjected to radiation with an intensity maximum in the near infrared, that the shade was much darker green than in the case where the hair was not subjected to infrared radiation.

Example 11

The following composition was prepared (contents expressed as percentage of active material):

p-Aminophenyl 0.65 1-(β-Hydroxyethyloxy)-2,4-diaminobenzene 1.45 Hydroxyethylcellulose (720 000) 0.72 Decyl polyglucoside 9.0 Benzyl alcohol 4.0 Preservatives 0.06 Ammonia 2 Demineralized water q.s.p. 100

The composition was mixed, weight for weight, with 20 volumes of oxidizing solution and then applied, for 30 minutes, to 1 g of locks of hair (90% white hairs) of Caucasian type. During the leave-in time, the hair was subjected to radiation emitted by an infrared lamp (QIR 100V-500 W/D from Ushio, with a power of 500 W, with a maximum intensity at a wavelength of 1200 nm and an intensity of 3.2 W/(cm2.sr.μm)).

The same composition was also applied to 1 g of locks of hair (90% white hairs) of Caucasian type for 30 minutes but without infrared radiation.

After the leave-in time, the hair was rinsed and dried.

It was found, in the case of the hair subjected to radiation with an intensity maximum in the near infrared, that the shade was a more intense coppery red than in the case where the hair was not subjected to infrared radiation. 

1. A method for treating keratinous fibers comprising: (a) placing the keratinous fibers under tension, (b) applying a reducing composition to the keratinous fibers, in order to reduce the disulphide bonds of the keratin, optionally rinsing the keratinous fibers, (c) heating the keratinous fibers by exposure to infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, and optionally comprising wavelengths within the range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, and (d) setting by oxidation, in order to reform the said disulphide bonds, by applying an oxidizing composition to the keratinous fibers.
 2. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation exhibits an intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 700 to 1400 nanometers.
 3. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation does not comprise a wavelength within the range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 4. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation also comprises at least one wavelength within the range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 5. The treatment method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared radiation does not exhibit an intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 6. The treatment method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared radiation exhibits at least one intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 7. The treatment method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers.
 8. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the radiation ranging from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, represents from 0% to 60%, of the intensity of the infrared radiation.
 9. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the infrared radiation of the device is adjusted so that the the keratinous fibers are at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 80° C.
 10. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the fibers are heated for a period of time ranging from 1 to 45 minutes.
 11. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the heating of the keratinous fibers is done via a device that comprises at least one emitter of infrared radiation, wherein the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 12. The treatment method according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises a first emitter of infrared radiation, the infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, and a second emitter of infrared radiation, the infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
 13. The treatment method according to claim 11, wherein the device is chosen from an infrared lamp, a hairdryer, a heating comb, a heating brush, a hair iron, a styling hood dryer and a heating roller.
 14. A kit for treating keratinous fibers comprising: at least one device for heating keratinous fibers comprising at least one emitter of infrared radiation, the infrared radiation comprising wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1400 nanometers, and wavelengths ranging from 15,000 nanometers to 1 millimeter, and at least one reducing composition for a permanent wave and at least one oxidizing composition for a permanent wave.
 15. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein heating the keratinous fibers by exposure to infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 750 to 1400 nanometers.
 16. The treatment method according to claim 2, wherein the infrared radiation exhibits an intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 750 to 1400 nanometers.
 17. The treatment method according to claim 3, wherein the infrared radiation does not comprise a wavelength within the wavelength range from 1400 nanometers to 15,000 nanometers.
 18. The treatment method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared radiation also comprises wavelengths within the wavelength range from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers.
 19. The treatment method according to claim 5, wherein the infrared radiation does not exhibit an intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers.
 20. The treatment method according to claim 6, wherein the infrared radiation exhibits at least one intensity maximum within the wavelength range from 1400 to 15,000 nanometers.
 21. The treatment method according to claim 7, wherein the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 nanometers.
 22. The treatment method according to claim 8, wherein the intensity of the radiation within the wavelength range from 1400 nanometers to 1 millimeter, represents from 10% to 40% of the intensity of the infrared radiation.
 23. The treatment method according to claim 9, wherein the keratinous fibers are at a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 60° C.
 24. The treatment method according to claim 10, wherein the fibers are heated for a period of time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. 